Author

About the Author /

Obsessed with film, the internet and WordPress, Directors Notes is the place Rob gets to brings all his interests together and really geek out. When not writing for DN he can be found on Short of the Week or Vimeo.

Animation, Awards

From Independent Production to Award Recognition: Luke Angus’s ‘Solstice’ and the Path to a BAFTA Nomination

Luke Angus reflects on staying motivated on his four-year solo animation and mimicking human camera errors to breathe life into his digital Arctic world.

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Film Festival

13 Standout Short Films from Sundance 2026

From familiar names to emerging voices, we dive into the 2026 Sundance lineup to spotlight thirteen must-watch short films.

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Cartoon Saloon's Eiru is one of the short film highlights at Manchester animation Festival

Animation, Film Festival

Our Top 12 Short Film Picks from Manchester Animation Festival 2025

From bold debuts to innovative festival favourites, MAF’s eclectic short film selection is bursting with creativity — here are 12 unmissable picks.

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shapes_tsz_wing_ho

Animation

Inside the Hypnotic World of ‘Shapes’: How Tsz-wing Ho Let Music Lead the Way

Animator Tsz-wing Ho returns to DN to share how mastering time management and connecting deeply with music inspired the creation of mesmerising film 'Shapes'.

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Animation, Premiere

Feelings of Tenderness and Dread Collide in Amanda Bonaiuto’s Surreal Animation ‘Confetti’

Animator Amanda Bonaiuto joins us to discuss how tone and direction has guided her distinct approach to filmmaking and why she's wary of the trap of 'style'.

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Animation

Cassie Shao Transforms Repetitive Explosive Moments into Narrative Inspiration in ‘This is a Story Without a Plan’

How the repetitive feeling of "watching an explosion slowly unfolding" led animator Cassie Shao to create her experimental mixed media relationship short film.

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Change Her RCA Short Film

Animation, Film Festival

The Future of Animation: Six Standout Short Films from the 2025 RCA Grad Show

From bold visuals to inventive storytelling, here are six standout films from the 2025 RCA Show that feel destined for the festival circuit.

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Animation, Premiere

Finding Beauty in the Chaos: Natasza Cetner on Creating ‘And the Cranes Kept Dancing’

Natasza Cetner offers us an "escape from monotony" in her woodcut-inspired paint on glass animated short - a hypnotic film about life's priorities.

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Film Festival

The 13 Must-Watch Short Films at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival

If you’re attending SXSW 2025 in person or beaming in virtually via the online platform, these are the 13 short films you won’t want to miss.

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Animation, Awards

Breakfast With “A Room Full of Bald Men”: The Unlikely Inspiration Behind Nicolas Keppens’ ‘Beautiful Men’

Director Nicolas Keppens walks DN through his journey into stop motion animation and the inspiration behind his Oscar-nominated short about male insecurity.

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Animation, Awards

How a Theatre Full of Disgusted Kids Inspired Loïc Espuche to Create the Oscar Nominated Short ‘Yuck!’ (Beurk!)

Director Loïc Espuche joins us to discuss how he brought a little lip-tingling magic to his Oscar-nominated tale of hidden desires and first kisses.

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Animation, Awards

José Prats Reminds Us To Honour Our Parents With His BAFTA Nominated Short Film ‘Adiós’

When BAFTA recognition means your grandma finally understands your job: José Prats on bridging personal filmmaking and professional acclaim.

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